The 5 Best Rolling Pins of 2024

 

Baking often requires precision and technique, especially when it comes to the thickness of the dough. Whether you’re attempting to execute a perfectly flaky pie dough or are are craving the delicate pastry dough that goes in fruit tarts, one of the best rolling pins is an indispensable kitchen tool. 

While rolling pins come in a variety of materials including wood, marble, nylon, and silicone pins, in our professional opinions, wooden pins are the easiest to work with. To help you find the right one, Meggan and I started with which rolling pins she personally uses and then researched other models on the market until we settled on five awesome options from brands like J.K. Adams and OXO. 

Ahead, check out the best rolling pins for yummy dessert making! 

Our Top Picks 

1. What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: J.K. Adams Maple Wood Baking and Pastry French Rolling Pin – $18 at Amazon
2. Also Great: J.K. Adams Maple Wood Rolling Dowel – $27.92 at Amazon
3. Runner-Up: Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin – $12.99 at Amazon
4. Best Adjustable: Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin – $19.58 at Amazon
5. Best Nonstick: OXO Good Grips Non-stick Rolling Pin – $20.99 at Target

Reviews of The Best Rolling Pins

1. What’s in Meggan’s Kitchen: J.K. Adams Maple Wood Baking and Pastry French Rolling Pin

Meggan’s favorite rolling pin is actually a French-style rolling pin from E. Dehillerin in Paris that she picked up while on a trip back in 2008. However, because it’s on the pricier side, Meggan hunted down an American version from J.K. Adams. Just like the French pins, this JK Adams pin has a style that features tapered edges instead of handles, which allows you to comfortably change the position of your hands right on the dowel instead of awkwardly reaching for the handles. All J.K. Adams rolling pins are hand-crafted in Vermont, too.

“I think the tapered pins style offers a lot more control over the classic rolling pin style,” Meggan said. “It’s ideal for rolling out dough evenly and smoothly, plus it makes the job easier because the dough doesn’t easily stick to the pin.”

Meggan recommends using this tried-and-true rolling pin for recipes like her yummy tart crust, and she thinks it can be an asset to the kitchens of home bakers everywhere. She loves the durability and versatility, too, as you can use the pin for other culinary tasks such as crushing graham cracker crumbs for a crust, pounding out butterflied chicken breasts, or tenderizing meat.

The Specs:

• Material: Maple wood
• Size: 20.5 by 1.75 inches
• Weight: 1 pound

The Pros:

• Lifetime warranty
• Affordable
• Professional quality
• Shape is versatile

The Cons:

• Cannot be soaked in water

What Others are Saying:

This rolling pin was named the best French rolling pin by Serious Eats and Epicurious.

Buy the J.K. Adams Maple Wood Baking and Pastry French Rolling Pin: 

2. Also Great: J.K. Adams Maple Wood Rolling Dowel

Another great rolling pin by J.K. Adams is this straight rolling pin with a dowel design. It’s super similar to Meggan’s top pick, except a dowel pin doesn’t taper at the ends like the French-style pins. It’s also constructed of the same quality maple wood and can handle a wide variety of baking tasks. 

Thanks to its hefty weight, it’s great for rolling out large slabs of cookie dough to an even thickness, and its 19-inch diameter is large enough to handle rolling out an extra-large pizza. The maple hardwood material holds flour well, so you can roll out the thinnest of pie crusts without worrying about the dough sticking.

The Specs:

• Material: Maple wood
• Size: 19 by 2 inches
• Weight: 1.5 pounds

The Pros:

• Well-crafted
• Long
• Matte surface holds flour well
• Made in America

The Cons:

• Slightly less agile
• Hand wash only

What Others are Saying:

The J.K. Adams Maple Wood Rolling Dowel has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from more than 1,500 reviews. Additionally, it was named best dowel rolling pin by Southern Living and it was named editor’s choice by Food & Wine.

Buy the J.K. Adams Maple Wood Rolling Dowel: 

3. Runner-Up: Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin

If you’re more of a fan of the classic rolling pin design, you’re not alone — Meggan’s husband prefers this style, too! Not only does the Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin look like the classic rolling pin your grandmother used, but at an affordable price point, it’s also a bargain buy that granny will approve of. 

The handles have an ergonomic grip, and the 10-inch diameter is easy to control while still being large enough to handle pie crusts and pizza dough. One of the best parts is the rust-resistant material that holds the pieces together, though you should avoid submerging the rolling pin in water. Instead, wipe it down with a damp cloth to get it clean. 

The Specs:

• Material: Rosewood
• Size: 17.5 by 2.5 inches
• Weight: 1 pound

The Pros:

• Rust-resistant metal
• Affordable
• Ergonomic handles 
• Classic design

The Cons:

• Cannot be submerged in water

What Others are Saying:

The Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin is a popular choice on Amazon with a 4.7-star rating from more than 20,000 reviews. Additionally, it was named the best value rolling pin by Good Housekeeping. 

Buy the Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin: 

4. Best Adjustable: Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin

A lot of baking recipes require precision, which means it can often be hard to get an evenly thick dough with a conventional rolling pin. That’s why Meggan and I love this adjustable rolling pin from Joseph Joseph — thanks to the four sets of adjustable discs at each end, it’s a breeze to keep things uniform as you roll out your pie crust or homemade graham crackers. Just choose a ring size based on your desired thickness, and the discs (1/16-, ⅙-, ¼-, or 3/8-inch) will handle the rest. 

The Specs:

• Material: Beechwood
• Size: 16 by 2.5 inches
• Weight: 1 pound, 4 ounces

The Pros:

• Precise measurements
• Dishwasher safe
• Easy to interchange
• Different colors for each ring size

The Cons:

• Lots of parts to keep track of

What Others are Saying:

The Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon from nearly 500 reviews. Additionally, it was named best adjustable rolling pin by Southern Living and Good Housekeeping.

Buy the Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin: 

5. Best Nonstick: OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Rolling Pin

If you ask 10 people what the most annoying thing about rolling out dough is, we’re willing to bet all 10 will say it’s when the dough sticks to the rolling pin. 

If this sounds like you (or if you’re a baking newbie), this handy non-stick rolling pan from OXO is a must-have. The stainless steel design is impressively lightweight, but it also makes for easy cleanup, too. Plus, it has a nice handle that’s easy to grip while the barrel is long enough to handle big tasks easily. 

Pro-tip: If you are baking a recipe with a lot of butter in it, chill the rolling pin in the freezer for 15 minutes before using it to keep the dough chilled and prevent sticking.

The Specs:

• Material: Stainless steel
• Size: 20.5 by 2.5 inches
• Weight: 1 pound, 8 ounces

The Pros:

• Nonstick steel
• Easy to clean
• Lightweight

The Cons:

• Nonstick coating can wear over time

What Others are Saying:

This model has a 4.4-star rating on Amazon from more than 1,100 reviews. Additionally, it was named the best nonstick rolling pin by Good Housekeeping. 

Buy the OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Rolling Pin: 

Other Rolling Pins to Consider

Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin with Wooden Cradle

In general, even though they are pretty, Meggan doesn’t love marble pins as a personal preference. She tried one once because she liked the look, but ended up donating it because the heft of it made it hard to control, resulting in uneven dough. The Fox Run Polished Marble Rolling Pin with Wooden Cradle is available at Amazon for $21.33.

Ultra Cuisine French Rolling Pin

Even though this model is dishwasher-safe, lightweight, and easy to control, the OXO model above is the better pick for performance. Reviewers said that dough can stick to this one, even after it’s been chilled in the freezer. The Ultra Cuisine French Rolling Pin is available at Amazon for $17.99.

Why You Can Trust Us

Hi, I’m Belle, an award-winning content creator and an adjunct professor who works in restaurant PR in the Midwest. For more than 20 years, I’ve held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants, including ownership of a Korean-concept hot dog cart (that was named after my dog’s teeth). My writing and on-camera work can be seen on the Better Homes & Gardens website. 

To create this guide for the very best rolling pins to help make light of hard work, I worked with Meggan to learn about which models she loves. Together, we discussed what qualities she considers when picking out the best rolling pins to buy. I then researched highly recommended models and read hundreds of online reviews to find some of the greatest options available. From there, we compared them side by side and rated them on design, ease of use, and overall value to come up with our list.

Everything to Know Before Buying a Rolling Pin

What to Consider Before Buying a Rolling Pin

You can’t go wrong with any of our top picks for the best rolling pins, but there are several important factors to consider before making a purchase. Here are a few things Meggan says to keep in mind: 

Material: Rolling pins come in lots of different materials like stainless steel, wood, and marble. Wood rolling pins are lightweight and grip flour well, resulting in less sticking. Stainless steel is easy to clean but doesn’t hold flour well. Meggan suggests avoiding marble rolling pins because they are heavy and result in uneven thickness. The best material for you will ultimately depend on what you plan to use your rolling pin for, whether it be pastries, shortbread, or pizza dough.

Weight: You should choose a rolling pin that is heavy enough to do most of the heavy lifting for you but not one that’s so heavy it’s hard to control. All of the options on our list are around one pound.

Size: The best size depends on what recipes you think you’ll be working with most. Most pies are 12 inches in diameter, so a 9- or 10-inch rolling pin is large enough. If you want to even roll out enough dough for an extra-large pizza, you may want to pick up a rolling pin that is at least 12 inches long, if not longer. 

What is a Good Rolling Pin Substitute?

Meggan has LOTS of ideas for things you can use instead of a rolling pin if you find yourself in a pinch. She suggests using a wine bottle, circular vase, or even a smooth-sided pint glass or jar. If you don’t have any of those lying around, you can use a water bottle or get super creative with a clean PVC pipe. 

What is a Rolling Pin Used For?

For hundreds of years, bakers around the world have used rolling pins to roll out dough for things like pastries, pies, sugar cookies, and pizzas. By rolling it, you can flatten any ball of dough into flat, thin sheets. Above: puff pastry rolled out for Meggan’s stunning Vegetable Pot Pie (which also happens to be 100% vegan).

How to Clean a Wooden Rolling Pin

Meggan says wooden rolling pins should never be put in the dishwasher and they should not even be cleaned with soapy water. Instead, scrub them with a sponge under hot water and leave them to air dry or dry with a towel. You can safely add a coating of food-grade mineral oil to help season the pin and keep it from drying out.

How to Handle Sticky Dough

If your dough is sticking to the rolling pin, try coating it with a dusting of flour. Or, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 10 or 20 minutes; that should help with the stickiness of the dough.

What Material is Best for a Rolling Pin?

Wood has been the classic go-to for hundreds of years because it’s lightweight and grips flour well. However, stainless steel is a good second option if you’re worried about the dough sticking to the material.

The Best Recipes that Need a Rolling Pin

Are you ready to get the ball rolling in your kitchen? Once you’ve selected your rolling pin, try these recipes out:

Pie and Tart Recipes

Fresh Fruit Tart

Bread Recipes

3-Ingredient Homemade Biscuits

Cookie Recipes

Homemade Graham Crackers

Baking Basics

How to Make a Pie Crust

Pie and Tart Recipes

Pecan Pie

Pie and Tart Recipes

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Pie and Tart Recipes

Mini Pumpkin Pies

Bread Recipes

Buttermilk Biscuits

Pie and Tart Recipes

The Best Apple Pie Recipe

Chicken and Turkey Recipes

Turkey Pot Pie

Prices were accurate at time of publication.